I didn’t expect to learn so much from this workshop. At first, I thought it was going to be a meditation workshop. But as soon as I saw the schedule, and how much it emphasizes relaxation, I thought we were just going to learn about how to ‘feel good’.

Chan Master Sheng Yen, born in China's Jiangsu Province in 1930, of the Dharma Drum Mountain in Taiwan and the Chan Meditation Center of New York passed into Nirvanic bliss in Taipei on February 3, 2009.

It is said: The Master can lead you to the door, but you cultivate on your own. The Venerable Master Sheng Yen had brought forth the Bodhi-mind to cultivate the Bodhisattva Way and had wasted no time to benefit all living beings in his lifetime.

One must seek progress in the ordinary and display luster amidst adversity; One must seek advancement in a state of harmony and see hope amid hard work; One must seek abundance in the midst of stability and demonstrate serenity in training; One must seek wisdom amidst silence and show compassion in action.

This is my first Chan retreat with Guo Yuan Fashi. When I welcomed and saw Guo Yuan Fashi coming into the retreat villa "Amitayus", all of a sudden, I felt a very deep impression of Fashi’s strong compassion that radiating from his face.

This is my third Chan Retreat. Before this, I have participated in a retreat with Guo Jun Fashi. Fashi gave me understanding that meditation is a natural process. Although there are many steps in meditation, I think that this entire steps will develop naturally.

This retreat was the third retreat I’d joined. But the first with Guo Yuan Fashi. I’d always enjoyed a retreat although I knew somewhere in the middle of the retreat I might face obstacles, boredom, painful knees …